Improvement in lightning-conductors



W BROWN. Lightning Conductors.

No. 196,518. Patented Oct. 30,1877.

Wsfif INVENTOR W2 fiv-m JIM a J -W w I 3| IORNEYS,

PLPETERS, PHOTQ-LhHOG'RAPa-IER, WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM BROWVN, OF DUNOANNON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-CONDUCTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 196,518, dated October30, 1877 application filed May 27, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM BROWN, of Duncannon, in the county of Perryand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvementin Lightning-Conductors; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of my lightning-rodattached to a dwelling, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional viewof my lightning-rod.

This invention consists in lightning-rods wherein a water-conductingtube is used in combination with a spurred rod-section and the nature ofmy invention consists in a spurred or tipped section of a rod for theupper section of the conductor, in combination with a metallic tubularrod leading down into the earth, and terminated by a number of flaringpoints or arms for distributing the elec tricity, as will be hereinaftermore fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A designates the wall of a building, and B theroof thereof. 0 is a rod, which is provided with any number ofattracting spurs or points aon its upper end, tipped by any suitablemetal which is not easily corrodible. This rod is electrically connectedto the interior side of the upper section of a tubular conductor, O,'ofcopper or any other conductor of electricity.

Any suitable means may be adopted for connecting the tubular sectionstogether to form a rod of any desired length.

At the upper end of the tubular rod is a funnel, l), for catching thedrippings of water, and at suitable points retainers for the tubular rodare employed, which may be insulators, one of which latter is designatedby the letter a, and is simply a flanged tube of a vitreous material.

The lower end of the lower section of the tubular conductor is split atdifferent points, forming fingers f, which are spread out, so as "toscatter the electricity and direct it downward into the earth.

D designates a tube, which is applied around the slitted portion of thetubular conductor, and perforated at c e, for the purpose of allowingthe air in the said tubular conductor to escape at proper times.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The improved lightning-rod, consisting of the rod 0, having anumber ofattracting-points, a, tubular conductor 0, having at its upper end thefunnel b, and at its lower end the tingers f, and the tube D, havingperforations c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM BROWN. Witnesses N. VAN FASSEN, G. R. 'WENGER.

